By Paul Sweeney
Two hours and thirty-five minutes and 27 songs later, Bruce Springsteen left the stage soaking wet from sweat and looking 20 years younger than his 75 years. The crowd in Ottawa had just seen the best concert since the last time Springsteen was in town.
I attended my first Bruce Springsteen concert back on April 14, 1981, at the age of 19, over 43 years ago. Last night at the Canadian Tire Centre, it was my thirteenth time seeing the Boss, and I’m 62 now. You’d think it can’t be as good as it was 43 years ago. Bruce and the band hadn’t been on stage for six years when they started the tour last year, but as they have proven time and time again, they haven’t lost a beat. In fact, I’d say Bruce’s voice is better than it’s ever been, Little Steven is still great, the Mighty Max is mightier than ever on drums, and Jake Clemons has taken over the sax role from his uncle Clarence and made it his own.
The show opened with ‘Lonesome Day’, and the crowd was on their feet from the get-go. For those of you who haven’t been to a Springsteen show, the seats rarely get used! There was a sign request from the audience after the seventh song, and the band started ‘Waitin’ on a Sunny Day,’ Bruce brought a young boy up on stage to sing the chorus and say, “Kick it E Street Band”, which they immediately did!
Hit after hit followed, with a catalogue of songs as vast as Springsteen’s, it’s a party with the audience singing and dancing all night. Twenty-one songs were sung with a rousing five-song encore, starting with ‘Born to Run’ and ending with ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’. The E Street Band took their bows and walked off the stage.
The show wasn’t over yet, though, as Bruce had one song left for Ottawa. Before he started, he said to loud cheers from the crowd, “That’s it I’m moving to Canada, Baby!” . . . and then it was just him and his acoustic guitar and the beautiful, haunting ‘I’ll See You in My Dreams’, and we did. What a night to remember.
Photos: Jean-Marc Carisse